It's been mock draft season for nearly two months in New York, but we are close to learning where Big Blue will pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. According to Tankathon, the New York Giants currently own the No. 5 overall pick.
With one game to go in the NFL season, the Giants, at 5-11, have an opportunity to stay in the top five or possibly climb even higher. It all depends on how the season-finale vs. the Eagles goes down, plus how others in front of them perform. With that said, there are massive needs this team needs to address on both sides of the ball. In our latest mock draft, Joe Schoen does just that, with a surprising trade also coming. But first...
NY Giants first-round pick: LSU WR Malik Nabers
Regardless of who is quarterbacking the Giants in 2024 or beyond, they also need some weapons to throw to. Jalin Hyatt and Wan'Dale Robinson are the only two wide receivers on Big Blue's roster guaranteed to return. Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins will likely be on the team, but it's not certain.
Slayton is a talented wideout but profiles as a WR3 on a playoff team. He has led New York in receiving yards in four of his five career seasons, which stresses the importance of getting a WR1.
Malik Nabers is absolutely a WR1. The 6' 0", 200-pounder hauled in 86 passes for 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023. He averaged 18 yards per reception in 2023, which would trail Hyatt (18.1) by 0.1 yards for the most yards per reception on the current Giants roster.
In LSU's 12 games this fall, he had nine 100-yard receiving games. In fact, in 11 of the 12 games, Nabers had 87 or more receiving yards. His lowest output in a game this season was 67 receiving yards. He's a flat-out stud.
NY Giants second-round pick: Florida State WR Keon Coleman
Keon Coleman falls to the second round in this scenario. Schoen should pounce if Coleman is on the board in round two, even if a wide receiver is the pick in round one.
The most recent instance of an NFL team grabbing a receiver in rounds one and two of the same draft was the Denver Broncos in 2020 (Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler). Coleman, a 6' 4", 215-pound receiver, would give the Giants a big-body receiver, something their offense has lacked for a viciously long time. Kenny Golladay was supposed to be that guy, but we all know how that worked out.
Keon Coleman Breakdown:
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) December 21, 2023
A literal HIGHLIGHT reel at FSU, his high’s are as entertaining as it gets fellas.
6’4 (89th percentile)
215 lbs (81st percentile)
Outside X receiver that can thrive in intermediate and short routes. ELITE size, very good hands, quickly locates and… pic.twitter.com/q8Jf9t5rhq
In three college seasons, the first two at Michigan State and the final at Florida State, Coleman caught 115 passes for 1,506 yards and 19 touchdowns. His figure and play style, identical to prime Golladay, would allow Brian Daboll to play vastly different wide receiver body types on the field simultaneously. Coleman was also a punt returner at Florida State, and we know Schoen craves versatility.